Abortion pill now available to all Alberta women at no cost
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EDMONTON – An abortion pill, used to end pregnancies of up to seven weeks (49 days), is now available to all women in Alberta at no charge.
The pill is called Mifegymiso, and it was approved by Health Canada in July 2015. It became available in Canada in January 2017, at a cost of $300.
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman says women’s reproductive options should not be dictated by how much they earn or by where they live.
“For far too long, women in rural communities have had to travel to major urban centres to receive a surgical abortion. By providing universal coverage for Mifegymiso, we’re supporting greater choice for women when it comes to their reproductive health.”
All doctors are being asked to complete a training program before prescribing it, and any pharmacist can dispense it.
Women who are thinking of taking the drug to end a pregnancy must first have an ultrasound to determine the age of the fetus, and to assess any potential health risks.
New Brunswick was the first province to provide universal coverage of the abortion pill earlier this month.
Quebec and Ontario have indicated the will do so as well.
